Born and raised in Logan, Utah, Rick Jones graduated valedictorian from Utah State University as an engineering student, briefly working for NASA after getting married in June, 1969. He then went on to receive a PhD from Cornell University and landed a position at Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill. This led to a long career in fiber optic telecommunications in various companies across the US, contributing to what eventually would become the internet.
An acoustic bassist in his teens and later a working jazz musician, Rick was constantly trying to find an amplifier combo that would both accurately reproduce the sound of his instrument and be light enough to carry comfortably to gigs along with his bass. But this animal simply did not exist, which lead him to experiment with cylindrical speaker cabinet designs in the 1990’s. He was no stranger to the field as he had applied to JBL and Bose, and had interviewed at Electro-Voice post doctorate. His knowledge and keen mind led him to realize that Class D amplifiers could be utilized in the lightweight enclosures he envisioned, a revolutionary idea at the time.
After much positive feedback from local musicians regarding his prototypes, Acoustic Image was born. With guitarist/bassist Paul Ingbretsen on staff to assist with assembly and testing, the company was off and running and quickly became known in the jazz world for leading edge technology and exceptional customer service. Rick’s warranties were unparalleled, his generosity benefitted many working musicians, and the company was an active supporter of the International Society of Bassists.
From 2007 on, the core crew at Acoustic Image was Rick, Paul, Clif Mann, and Rick’s son Chris. Rick continued to streamline his designs, moving from injection molded cabinets, to reprising the ‘hands on’ construction of his initial product line. In fact, the incredibly compact, lightweight Upshot and Doubleshot cabinets were built-up and painted six at a time by Rick himself. During the pandemic Acoustic Image moved to a smaller facility; however, by 2023 production was beginning to bounce back. Rick’s sudden passing in April left Acoustic Image devastated. He was the nucleus of the company, and it was clear that there was no path forward without him. Rick was Acoustic Image.
A huge THANK YOU to anyone and everyone who supported Acoustic Image over the last 25 years.
For a more detailed history from Rick himself, check out the “Volume 12 No. 1” newsletter.